Some good results were seen today when the students got the crayfish traps out.  They contained an abundance of creatures to examine and record as well as a very large specimen.  It's back up to the Tarn around midnight tonight to watch a bit of white clawed crayfish socialising.  The warm, still conditions we have here today should be ideal for this exercise.  Mind you, since a spot of human socialising will have been done in the Crown prior to the trek up to the Tarn it may be that focusing on these small creatures will present a problem for some.

One of the real joys of doing this job is that you never know what fascination will crop up from a knock on the door.  I was contemplating life the universe and everything on my front doorstep this afternoon when 2 people whose visits always bring delightful conversation and  often fascinating items of club and local history dropped by.  Into my hand was pressed a slim volume that I have not seen or even heard of.  A T R Houghton's book on the Ribble Salmon Fisheries was published in 1952 on the cusp of the creation of the Lancs River Board and the winding up of the old Conservators who had existed since the 1860's.  I shall read this book with great interest containing as it does a cornucopia of information about the history of the preservation of salmon and sea trout on our river.  It provides a unique insight into the way in which migratory fish have been managed on the Ribble down the ages and helps to explain why we have the fishery we enjoy today.

After another dry day the river is fairly low and with just light showers forecast for tomorrow the prospect is for little change in conditions over the next few days.

Ian